Vulcanizer



JU1Y730, 1946- E. J. voN DER HEIDE 2,405,077

VULCANIZER l Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Elmer .7. vozzderhez'de INVENTOR.

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July 30, 1946 E., J. VGN DER HEIDI-z VULCANIZER Filed Sepi. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR nl V Elmer .7.' von der-H221' de l a n ,wim

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ATTURIEY.

Patented July 3o, 1946 UNITED STATES iTENT OFFICE VULCANIZER Elmer J. von der Heide, Akron, Ohio Application September 4, 1943, Serial N o. 501,200

3 Claims.

My invention relates to vulcanizers.

One method commonly employed in the commercial vulcanization of rubber articles consists in placing the rubber-charged molds into a steam tight container, commonly known as an autoclave, where they are directly exposed to the heat of live steam under pressure for predetermined time periods. Access to the auto-clave is ordinarily had through a suitable door provided at one or both ends thereof.

With the equipment heretofore used the process is intermittent. After each vulcanizing period the steam pressure within the auto-clave must be exhausted before a door can be opened to permit withdrawal and replacement of the molds therein, and after each charge of fresh molds the steam pressure must be reestablished to provide the necessary vulcaniz-ing temperatures. Each actual vulcanizing period is ordinarily relatively short and the mold replacement periods frequent thereby entailing a considerable loss of steam and of valuable time One object of the present invention to provide a method and means for efecting a substantially continuous Vulcanizing process.

Another object to to provide means for admitting articles to a steam charged container without releasing the steam pressure therein.

Another object is to provide means for withdrawing articles from a steam charged container without releasing the steam pressure therein.

Another object is to provide a method and means for subjecting a substantially continuous succession of articles to steam under pressure.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional View of a vulcanizer constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the charging device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 3 cf Fig. 1 on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a fluid actuating system employed.

The vulcanizer selected for illustration includes a conventional auto-clave I0 in the form of a horizontal elongated cylinder supplied with steam under pressure through a pipe I I and having an exhaust and drain pipe I2. The autoclave shown is of a type that is ordinarily closed at both ends by circular doors (not shown) adapted to seat within rings I3 provided at the opposite ends thereof, each ring being equipped with the usual series of inturned lugs I4 for releasably locking the doors in pla-ce.

In this instance the doors are omitted, the ends of the auto-clave being permanently closed by devices through which rubber-charged molds may be admitted thereto and discharged therefrom without releasing the steam pressure therein. Devices for these purposes may assume various forms but those shown have proven satisfactory. Each comprises a cylinder I5 or I5 having a short laterally projecting throat I6 intermediate the ends thereof adapted to seat within one of the end rings I3. A series of outwardly projecting lugs I1 on each throat are arranged to pass between the lugs I 4 of the ring I3, as indicated in Fig. 4, and to interlock with and behind the latter upon rotation of the throat through a small angle- In this manner each cylinder l5 or I 5 is releasably but securely attached to an end of the auto-clave Iii, a suitable packing I8 being preferably provided to seal the joint therebetween.

Each cylinder I5 or I5 constitutes a housing and guide for a piston-like shuttle IS lengthwise reciprocable therein. Each shuttle I9 is preferably shaped to provide two end chambers 20 and 2l separated by an intermediate portion 2 and suitable means, such as piston rings 23 adjacent the opposite ends of each chamber, coact with the interior of the cylinder I5 or I5' to seal the latter against escape of steam therethrough.

In the device shown each chamber 20 and 2I has an opening 24 at one side thereof, adapted to register with the throat I5 alternatively and each also has a second opening 25 at the opposite side thereof adapted to register with one of the openings 26 or 2l in its guide cylinder Whenever the opening 2@ of the other is registered with the throat I6.

Chambers 20 and 2I in the cylinder I5 consti tute receiving chambers through which the rubber-charged molds a may be ad-mitted to the auto-clave I0. For instance, with the chamber 2D in the position shown in Fig. l it may receive a mold through the opening 25, and then the shuttle I9 may be shifted to register the chamber 20 with the throat I6 through which the mold may be transferred into the auto-clave I3. Likewise, with the shuttle I9 in the position last described the other chamber 2I is in position to receive a mold through the opening 2l, and when the shuttle is shifted into the position first named, this chamber 2| registers with the throat I6 and the mold therein may be transferred into the auto-clave.

Provision is made for eiiecting the transfer oi the mold to the auto-clave as each chamber is registered therewith. In this instance a pusher in the for-m of a piston rod 28 is utilized for this purpose. The rod 28 is shown connected to a piston 29 reciprocable in a cylinder 30 attached to the cylinder I5. The rod 28 is disposed coaxially of the auto-clave I and works through an opening 3| in the side wall of cylinder I5. The arrangement is such that whenever one of the chambers 20 or 2| is registered with the throat I6, the piston 29 and rod 28 are actuated to push e the contained mold through the throat and onto the track or runway 32 in the auto-clave, and

as each additional mold is thus forced into the auto-clave it forces ahead of it the succession of molds previously admitted thereto. are thus advanced stepby-step through the auto clave.

The shuttles I9 in the cylinders I5 and I5' are actuated substantiallysimultaneously so that one or the other of the chambers 2|) and 2| in the latter is aligned with the auto-clave I0 and in a position to receive the leading mold of the succession of molds at each advance thereof through the auto-clave. For instance, with the shuttle I9 of cylinder I5' in the position shown in Fig. 1, the chamber 2| thereof is positioned to receive a mold from the auto-clave, as the succession of molds in the latter are advanced by the pusher 28; and when this shuttle is shifted to position the other chamber 20 in alignment with the autoclave, the chamber 2| registers with the opening 21 in the cylinder I5' through which the mold within chamber 2| may be withdrawn.

The shuttles I9 may be actuated by any appropriate means. In this instance each is hydraulically actuated by a piston 33 or 33 arranged in a cylinder 34 or 34 mounted on and extending lengthwise of its cylinder I or I5. Each piston shown is provided with tail rods 35 separately connected to the opposite ends of the shuttle I9 through cables 36 trained over suitable pulleys 31. Liquid under pressure from an appropriate source 38 is supplied to both cylinders under control of a suitable valve 39 in such manner that, with the valve in one position, the two pistons 33 and 33 and their connected shuttles I9 are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions, and in the other position of the valve both are simultaneously actuated each in a reverse direction.

It will of course be understood that the steam pressure within the auto-clave III is continuously maintained, this being rendered possible by the means provided for admitting and discharging the molds without opening the auto-clave. By reason of this arrangement the vulcanizing process is continuous, each mold being subjected to the direct head of the steam throughout its passage from its charging chamber or 2| to its discharge chamber 20 or 2|, the vulcanizing period for each mold being determined by the time consumed during that passage and consequently by the length oi the auto-clave and by the frequency of operation of the charging and discharge means. In order to shorten the vulcanizing period for some special molds an auxiliary discharge unit similar to that above described may be provided intermediate the ends of the auto-clave or between sections thereof and operable to discharge those particular molds at an intermediate point.

rlhe molds It will be noted that, as each chamber 28 or 2| passes from communication with the auto-clave I0, it carries with a charge of steam received therefrom, a charge which, if permitted to issue through the openings 26 or 21, might prove dangerous or at least annoying to the attendants serving those openings. In order to avoid this discharge ducts 39 are preferably provided in the rear wall of each oi the cylinders I5 and I5' through which the steam pressure may escape as each chamber approaches an opening 25 or 21.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacricing the advantages of the invention as deiined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an elongated vulcanizing chamber containing steam under pressure, of separate means for admitting articles to one end of said chamber and for withdrawing articles from the other end of said chamber without releasing the steam pressure in said chamber, said article admitting means comprising a housing efr-- tending across an end of said chamber and hav, ing an intermediate side opening communicating therewith, a member in said housing forming two separate article receiving compartments therein, said member being reciprocable to align said compartments with said opening alterna tively, and means reciprocable in a direction lengthwise of said chamber for transferring articles from an aligned compartment to and through said chamber.

2. The combination with an elongated vulcanizing chamber containing steam under pressure, of separate means for admitting articles to one end of said chamber and for withdrawing articles from the other end of said chamber without releasing the steam pressure in said chamber, each of said means comprising a housing extending across an end of said chamber and having an intermediate side opening communicating with said chamber, a member in each housing forming two separate article receiving compartments there-- in, each of said members being reciprocable to align said compartments with said opening alternatively, and each of said housings having additionalopenings affording access to said comparte ments alternatively, and means reciprocable in a direction lengthwise of said chamber for advancing articles from an aligned compartment into and lengthwise of said chamber.

3. 'Ihe combination with an elongated vulcanizing chamber containing steam under pressure. of separate means for admitting articles to one end of said chamber and for withdrawing articles from the other end of said chamber without reM leasing the steam pressure in said chamber, each oi said means comprising a housing extending across an end of said chamber and having an intermediate side opening communicating with said chamber, a member in each housing forming two separatearticle receiving compartments therein, each of said members being reciprocable to align said compartments with said opening alterna tively, and each of said housings having additional openings affording access to said compartments alternatively, means for simultaneously reciprocating said members, and means reciprocable in a. direction lengthwise of said chamber for advancing articles from an aligned compartment into and lengthwise of said chamber.

E. J. voN DER HEIDE. 

